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Distraught Bicyclist Dies in Crash With Car on State Road 60

A sheriff's official said the bicyclist was distraught and darted into traffic.

By CLIFFORD PARODYTHE LEDGER

Published: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 3:58 a.m.

LAKE WALES | A distraught bicyclist who darted into traffic on State Road 60 near Lake Wales was struck and killed Saturday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The driver who struck him was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, officials said.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said Keith Richardson, 32, of 2041 David Street, Lake Wales, rode his bicycle into the path of a 2001 Chrysler 300 driven by Vonterrious West, 22, of 5575 Wilmington Circle in Lakeland, about 7:30 p.m. The crash occurred near Old Bartow Road, west of Lake Wales.

Deputies learned that Richardson had been drinking. He had called his mother in Mississippi and told her he was going to throw himself in front of a vehicle, Wood said.

According to a Sheriff's Office report, Richardson rode his bike into the westbound lanes of SR 60 in front of two oncoming vehicles that swerved and missed him.

He then began riding east, the wrong way on the highway, and into the path of West's Chrysler, the report said. Upon impact, Richardson was thrown into the air and landed in the roadway.

Richardson died at the scene, and his damaged bicycle was found nearby.

Witnesses told deputies they saw the Chrysler driver stop his car just west of the crash site, check for damage and then leave.

When deputies found West driving on State Road 60 west of Bartow, he told them he thought he had hit an animal.

"There were no obvious signs of impairment," Wood said. "Had West remained at the scene, he would not have faced criminal charges."

West was held without bail Sunday at the Polk County Jail.

[ Clifford Parody can be reached at clifford.parody@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. ]

<p>LAKE WALES | A distraught bicyclist who darted into traffic on State Road 60 near Lake Wales was struck and killed Saturday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The driver who struck him was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, officials said.</p><p>Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said Keith Richardson, 32, of 2041 David Street, Lake Wales, rode his bicycle into the path of a 2001 Chrysler 300 driven by Vonterrious West, 22, of 5575 Wilmington Circle in Lakeland, about 7:30 p.m. The crash occurred near Old Bartow Road, west of Lake Wales.</p><p>Deputies learned that Richardson had been drinking. He had called his mother in Mississippi and told her he was going to throw himself in front of a vehicle, Wood said.</p><p>According to a Sheriff's Office report, Richardson rode his bike into the westbound lanes of SR 60 in front of two oncoming vehicles that swerved and missed him. </p><p>He then began riding east, the wrong way on the highway, and into the path of West's Chrysler, the report said. Upon impact, Richardson was thrown into the air and landed in the roadway.</p><p>Richardson died at the scene, and his damaged bicycle was found nearby.</p><p>Witnesses told deputies they saw the Chrysler driver stop his car just west of the crash site, check for damage and then leave. </p><p>When deputies found West driving on State Road 60 west of Bartow, he told them he thought he had hit an animal. </p><p>"There were no obvious signs of impairment," Wood said. "Had West remained at the scene, he would not have faced criminal charges."</p><p>West was held without bail Sunday at the Polk County Jail. </p><p>[ Clifford Parody can be reached at clifford.parody@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. ]</p>